This is absolutely the best text on Indo-European Comparative Mythology that you will ever find. Dr. Puhvel has a wonderful sense of humor as well as a knack for complicated topics in a manner that is easy for anyone to understand. You can't beat this book for overviews of the traditions of Vedic India, Epic India, Ancient Iran, Epic Iran, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Celtic peoples, Germanic peoples, and Baltic and Slaveic peoples. Add to that essays on the study of myth, an analysis of creation myth in the ancient Near East, a discussion about Indo-Europeans and Indo-Iranians, as well as sections on "God and Warrior," "King and Virgin," "Horse and Ruler," "Fire in Water," and "Twin and Brother," and you just can't find anything that compares to this text. Dr. Puhvel offers suggestions for further reading at the end of every chapter and an excellent bibliography. This is a wonderful book to use as a text in classe! ! s on mythology as well as a great reference work for your personal library. If you love mythology, whether you are a scholar or an aficionado, this is definitely the book for you!